GETTING ON THE BALLOT
Top 3 Dem hopefuls, Rauner file primary nominating petitions
Candidates submit petitions on first day |
They’ve already raised a combined $ 42 million for their campaigns, traveled the state and squared off in candidate forums, but on Monday, the top three Democratic candidates officially entered the race for governor, filing their nominating petitions to get on the March 20 primary ballot.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner was also among the early birds, submitting his petitions Monday, the first day of the weeklong filing period.
Missing in action on Day 1 were filings by Republican gubernatorial challenger state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton, as well as Democrats Bob Daiber, Alex Paterakis, Tio Hardiman and Robert Marshall.
Candidates have until Dec. 4 to file their petitions.
Billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist J. B. Pritzker, Chris Kennedy — businessman and heir to the political dynasty — and state Sen. Daniel Biss, DEvanston, all filed their petitions at 8 a. m. There will be a lottery to see whose name will appear first on the ballot.
Both Pritzker and Biss appeared in person to file petitions. Kennedy running mate Ra Joy took Kennedy’s place at the Illinois State Board of Elections office in Springfield.
Pritzker — the perceived front- runner — told the SunTimes although he’s picked up significant endorsements fairly early on in his campaign, he’s not seeking the endorsement of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, the Illinois Republican Party and Rauner’s No. 1 target.
“I haven’t talked to the speaker about that and I’mnot seeking the endorsement of the Illinois Democratic Party or the speaker,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker — who has more than $ 14 million in his war chest — began running TV ads in May. Rauner — with a whopping $ 65 million on hand — began running his own ads in June. Kennedy— with $ 1.55 million in the bank — ran his first TV ad in November.
On Monday, Pritzker and Kennedy released portions of their past income tax returns. Rauner released his returns last month.
Pritzker said he’ll focus on the “issues.”
“I don’t know what Gov. Rauner is going to be doing. I think he might have an opponent in the primary, and I’m trying to run a campaign about the issues,” Pritzker said.
Biss said he plans to continue to travel the state working with activists and organizations about “how to build a movement.”
“What do we want? A middle- class governor or a 1 percent governor who is just going to write a check and fix it for us,” Biss said. “Do we want an election, or do we want an auction?”
Joy, Kennedy’s running mate, says the two plan to travel the state and meet with voters in coming weeks.
Ives, who jumped into the Republican primary amid backlash over Rauner’s signing of an abortion bill, said on Monday that she planned to file her nominating petitions “in the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile in a contentious race for Illinois attorney general, Republican candidate Erika Harold — backed by the state Republican Party and Rauner — filed her petitions. Democrats state Sen. Kwame Raoul, D- Chicago; former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti; Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering; state Rep. Scotty Drury, DHighwood; and former Gov. Pat Quinn too filed their petitions.
Raoul in November won the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party.